A SOLO rowing heroine will be the guest speaker at an annual North-East event highlighting the achievement of women in business.

Debra Veal, the owner of an Internet-based art company, a television presenter and author, was the first woman to complete the Yukon River Quest, one of the world's longest river races.

She shot to fame, however, when she completed a three-and-a-half month solo row across the Atlantic after her husband, an international oarsman, left the boat after developing a fear of the ocean.

Her television career has so far included presenting BBC Grandstand and the DIY programme, Big Strong Boys.

Aged only 28, she is the youngest guest speaker invited to deliver the annual Enterprise Lecture of the Women into the Network (WiN) initiative, based at Durham University.

The lecture, at Durham Town Hall, is sponsored by Business Link County Durham and regional development agency One NorthEast.

It has become a prestigious event in the North-East business diary and attracts an audience of around 250 from all sections of commerce, industry and academia.

Previous speakers have included Helen Alexander, the chief executive of the Economist Group, public relations "guru" Lynne Franks and Body Shop founder Anita Roddick.

WiN is described as a "networking initiative", run from Durham University Business School, to raise awareness and promote the development of women in business.

Since its inception four years ago, WiN has played a part in the creation of more than 500 jobs in female-owned businesses.

The lecture takes place on Wednesday, starting at 5.30pm.